I MIGHT BE A PRICK!
I am not a wealthy man, but I can afford a buck. Giving one dollar to a worthy cause will not affect my life style. I should be willing to give a dollar to worthy causes, but apparently I am a prick.
Yesterday Mrs. C and I went grocery shopping. When my bill was rung up, the cashier asked me, “Would you like to donate a dollar to the Something Something Blah Blah Blah FOR CHILDREN?”
I have no idea what this charity was for. All I heard was FOR CHILDREN. What cause that ends in FOR CHILDREN would not be worth handing over a single dollar? Probably none, except apparently I am a prick.
“No thank you, I don’t want to give a measly dollar to the Something Something Blah Blah Blah FOR CHILDREN, because I am a prick!”
The thing is, I just don’t like being hit up for a charity when I am not expecting it. I don’t like that the store hits me up when I am running up a credit charge. I don’t like the fact that I won’t be able to declare my contribution as a tax deduction, but the store probably will. I give a buck and one million other blindsided customers give a buck and the CEO of the grocery store gets his picture in the paper handing over a tax deductible check for $1 million dollars.
It just bothers me…but then I am a prick.
I give to charities from time to time. I give to charities I care about, charities that hit close to my home. If I give a buck to the store, it is one dollar less I have to give to my charities; so I say no and feel like a prick!
“No thank you, I don’t want to give a measly dollar to the Something Something Blah Blah Blah FOR CHILDREN, because I am a prick!”
After the grocery store we went to “Boston Market” to take home our dinner. Checking out I was asked,
“Would you like to donate a dollar to the CHILDRENS FUND for something something?”
Mrs. C immediately pulled me by the arm, said no thank you and dragged me out of the store before I went on a rant to some poor 17 year old cashier who was only doing her job.
The next time I am asked for a dollar while checking out of a store I am going to ask to see the manager. When he shows up I am going to ask him if he would like to donate a dollar to the Lustgarten Foundation to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. If he says no I will just shake his hand and say “Well let’s just call it a draw then.”
If he says yes, I’ll do the same thing.
At least then I won’t feel like a prick.
re-run from July 2015
I hate it when they have a group of kids bagging groceries for tips. I turn around and leave, preferring to do my shopping on a day the cashier bags the groceries for NO tip. Sometimes I go over to Save A Lot, where I'm used to bagging my own groceries for NO tip. I am willing to take several detours to avoid Little League teams collecting money at a 4-way stop. Don't even get me started on the bake sales out front of Walmart. Charitable giving should be done the old-fashioned way, from home, by check, for tax record purposes.
ReplyDeleteIt was pointed out to me once that most charities asking for donations are "For the children". Where is the support for adults in need? You don't hear much about them until winter when you're asked to donate to help the homeless. and you can donate "for the children" as long as you like, but 100 years from now will it have made a difference or will there still be too many children needing help via donations? How much of each dollar actually helps the children and how much goes to supporting the charity?
ReplyDeleteI also dislike being asked to donate at places like supermarkets.
I agree that it is wrong when people approach you in the street and ask for donations to the Home for Distressed Weasels, or The museum of Shoes Throughout the Ages, or Counselling Services for Failed Psychiatrists. Here in the UK they even come knocking at your door making you feel guilty for not donating. The other day someone knocked at my door collecting for fallen women! I told him I haven't got any.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK, if you donate to registered charities, or your church, the Government gives back to the charity 25% of your donation. So if you give the church £1 the church gets an extra 25 pence from the Government and your donation is worth more and costs you nothing extra.
God bless.
I'm on your side! It is pretty much the same where I live but mostly the money boxes are left for us to decide whether or not to put money in. If I was bombarded to cough up a few bob I would never use the shop again.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the exact reason I won't give at the cash register. I find it obnoxious that a corporation will get the credit when they were asking their customers for the money. I don't care if they match the dollars. It's the principle of the thing.
ReplyDeleteActually, if you keep the receipts, you get to count it on your taxes, so i was told.
ReplyDeleteThis is one reason i like the self checkout, i don't feel guilty about not checking yes on the computer screen when it asks me the same thing.
The requet for a charitable donation does not belong in stores or the workplace.....
ReplyDeleteAt Christmas time, every store asks for a donation. I give to the first and have no guilt about saying no to the others. The way the tax laws are today, you have to give about half your income to get a tax deduction.
ReplyDeleteI knew it! You have just outed yourself as a sensitive, understanding guy....even if you might be a prick.
ReplyDeleteAny way, I have no problems with the request for donations. I've learned the Art of No. However, having said that, it's absolutely essential that we know how our donations are spent. I try to take a minute to check out Charity Watch (https://www.charitywatch.org/charitywatch-criteria-methodology) which gives you a nice overview on how different charities are rated.
But, really, $1? It's not much. If the store asking for donations can gather up thousands of dollars, why stress over the fact you can't deduct your donation?
Well I have become a prick too. I did it once at the grocery store and now every time I go in for just a half gal of milk they are asking me. There should be a pin that says I gave, leave me alone. I am with you on all your points. I give a lot to charity and I hate being made to feel bad when I say no. Why is at the grocery store anyway??
ReplyDeleteI Love the Idea of the pin saying "I Gave Leave Me Alone"... I want one! *winks*
DeleteI echo messymimi. At least at the self check out no one knows you are considered heartless as you punch "no".
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh. I wrote my blog post last night about Go Fund Me and I hadn't checked to see what was in my feed to read. I occasionally will give at the cash register for causes and you are right, the corporations get the glory from us who contribute. Maybe it does open some people's eyes to maybe helping because I really wonder what the percentage is of people who give to charities. I bet the cashiers hate having to ask for the donations too but know they have to as it is part of their duties.
ReplyDeletebetty
This is happening almost everywhere anymore. We don't do it either. We have places we gie and that's our business not Raley's Grocery Store.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Joe. We are pricks too. ♪♫♪♫
I don't ever give in those circumstances. So I guess I am one, too.
ReplyDeleteI've come to you through Valerie. I'm with you c.o.m! It gets up my goat when I'm hit up for unexpected donations. I do feel like a prick when I decline the invitation to donate. There always seems to be someone wanting to make a buck. Like you, I prefer to make my own choices on giving to charity in my own good time.
ReplyDeleteI give to people directly not to "causes" that don't end up giving all of the money to the kids anyway. Adopting a family from a local school at the holidays or just before school starts to help with school supplies. I'm all for that because you meet with the principal and teachers and they know who may need help. I would rather buy shoes for a kid than trust some organization. I guess I'm a prick too.
ReplyDeleteMore and more that is happening. I think if stores want to make a contribution to the community they should go ahead and write a check and leave me to decide when and waht I want to support.
ReplyDeletei think you acted like a reasonable man (hubby) dear Joe
ReplyDeletei believe that donation must not be ask as daringly but they should use board written for it so every one who wants to donate can do it or avoid it
we okay hubby do not donate for such asking services because he does not believe in things which he does not know much about
we give our donations each month since years and each year when hubby's salary increase we increase the donation as well
we give it to people who we know they are needy
I have the same reasons as you do. I like to research the charity and give to them directly.
ReplyDeleteOK, so I'm a Female and what would then be the Female equivalent of being a Prick in a similar situation? Pet peeve of mine is that damned near EVERYWHERE now they're hitting you up for your Change after a purchase for some Charitable Cause rather than just handing you the Change owed. And I swear to God even when it's a few Pennies I'm usually like NO... just because to me Charitable Giving should be VOLUNTARY always and NOT COERCED EVER! I think they rely upon you looking like or feeling like a total asswipe if you say No? The Goodwill does this all the time, wanting to Round Up your purchase to the nearest dollar and I'm like... why don't you just price everything to the Dollar then and be done with it? Then you don't have to annoy me EVERY FREAKIN' TIME with the Solicitation for another 'Donation'! We live on the 80-20 Plan anyway, live on 80 percent, give 10% and Save or Invest 10% of total income... that's my part and I'm content with it. I typically don't feel the Need to do more for any Cause... no matter how noble or worthy. Unless I voluntarily choose to.
ReplyDelete